The Empire and the Wolf King (Kaitlyn and the Highlander #21)

50. Chapter 50 - Kaitlyn

CHAPTER 50 - KAITLYN

THE DO-OVER - MAY 15, 2025 - FLORIDA

E mma and I cleaned up some of the food. Zach was on his phone selecting his ‘Lady Mairead is going to visit’ playlist for the music. I started to tell Archie and Ben that she was coming and they should probably straighten up their pallet of bedding on the floor where they were watching Star Wars, but then, why? It was a surprise visit, the kids didn’t need to straighten up.

But then, over their protests, I paused their movie and used the handheld vacuum to clean up the spilled popcorn anyway. I put my hands on my hips, fine, this looks fine.

Archie said, “Can we start the movie again, Ma?”

“Of course, go back to what you are doing.”

Emma said, “All of us need to act natural.”

We rushed back out to the table to pretend like we hadn’t been bothered enough to do any straightening up.

A while later Lady Mairead was in our living room, speaking to the children, and then she walked out to the deck followed by a handsome young man.

“Well now, here ye are, once again, gathered around yer dinner table, outdoors, in a Florida night with the stench of seafood permeating the air.” Magnus gave me a look that meant ‘get a load of this’ as he sat down. Lochie and James were pulling up two more chairs.

Magnus said, “Lady Mairead, perhaps ye can introduce yer friend.”

She said, “As I explained tae ye in the truck, Magnus, Wilfred is not my friend , he is going tae be my husband.”

He bowed. “King Magnus, Queen Kaitlyn.” And kept his eyes down.

Magnus raised his brow. “Tis fine, Wilfred, ye daena hae tae bow anymore, hae a seat.”

Everyone at the table had wide eyes as Wilfred pulled out her chair and she settled haughtily in it. Then Wilfred sat beside her and took her hand.

Magnus said, “Now ye must explain. What dost ye mean , Lady Mairead, by husband? This is verra irregular.”

She said, “Wilfrey?—”

Magnus said, “Wilfrey!”

“Aye, Wilfrey has asked for my hand in marriage, and I hae accepted his offer, and before ye complain, Magnus, I hae done a thorough background check and he has signed a prenuptial agreement.”

Magnus said, “Just so I am clear, Wilfrey, is Wilfred Weaver, the actor? ”

Wilfred nodded his head. “Yes, Your Majesty. I am the winner of the Golden Crown award for best performance by a lead in the movie The Shadow of Nothingness. I go by Wilfrey amongst friends and family.”

Magnus said, “Och nae…” and leaned back in his chair with his eyes narrowed.

Wilfrey was very handsome, he looked like a young Robert Redford. I glanced at Hayley, fanning herself.

Magnus said, “Ye ken I canna allow it.”

She said, “Tis not up tae ye tae decide.”

Magnus grunted.

Fraoch said, overly merry, “And Wilfrey, where did y’two kids meet?”

Wilfrey said, “Mairead escorted me to the award?—”

Magnus said, “Mairead!”

Lady Mairead said, “What did ye expect my betrothed tae call me, Magnus?” She raised her chin. “I was quite lonely in Riaghalbane, there has been a lot for me tae deal with and I was feeling the weight of it, so I invited Wilfrey tae visit one night.”

I glanced at Hayley, she was trying to keep from laughing.

Lady Mairead continued, “And now he has asked me tae marry. I hae accepted his offer.”

Magnus raised his brow. “And what is his ‘offer,’ exactly?”

Wilfrey said, “I am devoted to Mairead.”

She patted his hand and looked at him lovingly. “He has promised tae keep me company, and he is verra handsome. Inna he handsome, Kaitlyn?”

I nodded, biting my lip.

I glanced at Magnus. He looked bemused.

She asked, “Inna he handsome Madame Hayley? Madame Emma, ye see it, ye see he is verra fine. He will look verra good on my arm when I attend Abby’s next party.”

Fraoch smiled widely, “Ye dinna ask me, but I say he is verra fine, as good lookin’ a man as ever I saw.”

Lady Mairead said, “Thank ye, Fraoch, that is his offer, and in exchange I am tae give him a title and he will hae all he ever can dream of. Tis fair I suspect.”

Magnus said, “Tis more than fair! And here he is arriving on our beach by vessel, ye hae told him about um…”

Quentin said, “Our um, side hustle?”

Magnus said, “Aye, our side hustle? Or did ye bang him over the head with something and drag him here unawares?” He looked at Wilfrey, “I am not imagining this, she has done it tae me before.”

“He kens all of it, ye may speak freely, Magnus.”

Magnus tossed his napkin down. “Och, thank heavens I can speak freely in m’own home!”

I patted the back of his hand.

He took a deep breath and exhaled.

I said, “It sounds like you have thought this through and you have a very clear view of what this business arrangement —”

Wilfrey said, “Your Majesty, while we have made business arrangements around our betrothal, I have asked Mairead to marry out of a sincere devotion to her. I find myself irrevocably in love with her, and I mean to prove it.”

I said, “Well, that is lovely, I am really happy for you, Lady Mairead.”

“Thank ye, Kaitlyn, I dinna think I would ever marry again but current events hae given me a glimpse of the finality of life.”

Magnus leaned forward, “What current events? Ye mentioned earlier that there was a lot to deal with, what has happened?”

She said, “First I will need some dessert and a brandy tae get through this conversation.”

Zach jumped up from his seat, “Coming right up, but you haven’t mentioned the music.”

“Tis because I hae been interrogated and dinna hae the chance tae listen.” She cocked her head. “Tis verra fine, who is this musician?”

“I thought you might like this one, these are the dulcet tones of Neil Diamond.”

“Perfect.”

He rushed from the room followed by Emma and we sat in silence until a few moments later when Emma carried in the drinks and passed them around.

Lochie said, “I daena need one, I will stick tae beer.” He pulled a beer from the cooler and popped the cap off.

Lady Mairead said, “Tis a box of drinks by yer table, Kaitlyn? This is how ye entertain?”

I laughed. “I didn’t know I was entertaining.”

“Och, I forgot, all of these people live here.” She turned to Wilfrey. “They hae verra modern ideas about family living under one roof.”

Magnus said, “These are old-fashioned ideas, ye grew up with yer whole family livin’ in one castle!”

“But this is not a castle.”

She turned to the end of the table. “Madame Sophie, when are ye due?”

“With the new moon in three days.”

Lady Mairead nodded. “Good, but I wouldna make plans on the morrow, ye will likely be busy.”

James laughed. “Do you know something we don’t know?”

“Aye, I ken a great deal.”

Zach came from the house a moment later and put cake and ice cream in front of Lady Mairead and Wilfrey. Magnus asked, “What about me?”

“You already had some, you want another one?”

“Aye, I canna watch my mother and her actor-friend eat m’cake without also havin’ cake. I am not capable of that much fortitude.”

Lady Mairead took a bite of her cake. “He is my soon-tae-be husband.”

Zach said, “Don’t talk about anything important til I’m back!” We all waited for him to return, listening to his banging around in the kitchen, just past the living room where there was a loud blaster fight happening on the Star Wars movie Archie and Ben were watching.

Zach finally returned with multiple plates with cake and ice cream and passed them out to all who wanted one.